The term "sooner" does not appear explicitly in the Bible; however, the concept of acting or arriving sooner than expected can be explored through various biblical narratives and principles. In Scripture, the idea of timing and the anticipation of events are significant themes, often reflecting God's sovereignty and human response to divine timing.

Biblical Principles of Timing

The Bible frequently addresses the importance of timing in God's plan. Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." This verse underscores the belief that God has ordained specific times for every event in life, and human actions should align with His divine schedule.

Examples of Acting Sooner

1. Abraham and Hagar: In Genesis 16, Abraham and Sarah acted sooner than God's promise by taking matters into their own hands. Sarah, unable to bear children, gave her maidservant Hagar to Abraham to conceive an heir. This premature action led to familial strife and long-term consequences, illustrating the pitfalls of acting ahead of God's timing.

2. Saul's Impatience: In 1 Samuel 13, King Saul acted sooner than instructed by offering a burnt sacrifice before the prophet Samuel arrived. Saul's impatience and failure to wait for God's appointed time resulted in Samuel declaring that Saul's kingdom would not endure. This narrative highlights the importance of obedience and waiting on God's timing.

3. The Prodigal Son: In Luke 15, the parable of the prodigal son depicts a young man who demanded his inheritance sooner than was customary. His premature decision led to a life of wastefulness and hardship. This account serves as a moral lesson on the dangers of impatience and the value of repentance and restoration.

Anticipation of Christ's Return

The New Testament frequently addresses the anticipation of Christ's return, urging believers to remain vigilant and prepared. In Matthew 24:44 , Jesus warns, "For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect." This exhortation emphasizes the need for spiritual readiness and the understanding that God's timing is beyond human prediction.

Lessons on Patience and Trust

The Bible encourages believers to trust in God's perfect timing and to exercise patience. James 5:7-8 advises, "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is near." This passage reassures Christians that patience is a virtue that aligns with faith in God's promises.

Conclusion

While the term "sooner" is not directly mentioned in Scripture, the concept is woven throughout biblical teachings on timing, patience, and trust in God's plan. Believers are encouraged to wait on the Lord, understanding that His timing is perfect and His purposes are ultimately for their good.5032. tachion -- more swiftly
... singular of the comparative of tachus (as adverb); more swiftly, ie (in manner)
more rapidly, or (in time) more speedily -- out (run), quickly, shortly, sooner ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5032.htm - 6k

4250. prin -- before
... adverb akin to pro Definition before NASB Word Usage before (13). before, ere. Adverb
from pro; prior, sooner -- before (that), ere. see GREEK pro. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4250.htm - 6k

4708. spoudaioteros -- speedily
... speedily Adverb from spoudaioteros; more speedily, ie Sooner than otherwise -- more
carefully. see GREEK spoudaioteros. (spoudaioteros) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4708.htm - 6k

5036. tachus -- quick, swift
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition quick, swift NASB Word Usage faster
(1), quick (1), quickly (1), soon (2), sooner (1). swift. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5036.htm - 7k

That by virtue of this Work a Sinner Truly Turned and Called to ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER That by Virtue of this work a sinner truly
turned and called to contemplation cometh sooner to perfection than by any ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the sixteenth chapter.htm

Whether one Person is Delivered from this Punishment Sooner than ...
... QUALITY OF SOULS WHO EXPIATE ACTUAL SIN OR ITS PUNISHMENT IN PURGATORY (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether one person is delivered from this punishment sooner than another? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether one person is delivered.htm

Reasons for his Rising on the Third Day. -1 not Sooner for Else ...
... On the Incarnation of the Word. Section 26. Reasons for His rising on the Third
Day. (1) Not sooner for else His real death would be denied, nor (2) later; to ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 26 reasons for his.htm

Fruitless Faith
... Statements of Paul and of James must be reconciled, and if they were not, I would
be prepared sooner to throw overboard the statement of James than that of Paul ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/fruitless faith.htm

The Life of the Honourable Archibald Campbel Marquis of Argyle.
... And no sooner did our reformation (commonly called the second reformation) begin
to dawn anno 1637, than he espoused the same cause himself; for we find next ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of the honourable.htm

In the Creation of the World, and all Things in It, the True God ...
... of the creation. An impious objection, Why the world was not created sooner?
Answer to it. Shrewd saying of an old man. 2. For the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 14 in the creation.htm

The Observation of the Birth of Christ, the Duty of all Christians ...
... They can do any thing now to pass away that, which is hastening as fast as thought:
time is always upon the wing; it is no sooner present but it is past, and ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the observation of the birth.htm

Of the Fourth Consideration of the Sacred, Holy Stigmata
... by the shepherds who had seen Mount Alvernia on fire, and who took it to be a token
of some great miracle wrought by God on his person, no sooner had he ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/of the fourth consideration of.htm

Preface
... The sooner this is realized the sooner some of the most difficult problems of the
Church, of the Sunday-school, and of popular religious education will be ...
/.../kent/the origin and permanent value of the old testament/preface.htm

The Contribution of Science to Christianity
... Yet, sooner or later, the conquest comes; sooner or later, whether it be art or
music, history or philosophy, Christianity utilises the best that the world ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the contribution of science to.htm

Sooner (21 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sooner (21 Occurrences). Matthew 12:43 "No sooner
however has the foul spirit gone out of the man, then ...
/s/sooner.htm - 12k

Spoken (631 Occurrences)
... Mark 14:72 No sooner had he spoken than a cock crowed for the second time, and Peter
recollected the words of Jesus, "Before the cock crows twice, you will ...
/s/spoken.htm - 35k

Elisha (70 Occurrences)
... Afterwards when a dead body is laid in Elisha's grave a year after his burial, no
sooner does it touch the hallowed remains than the man "revived, and stood up ...
/e/elisha.htm - 61k

Vulgate
... Some parts of Jerome's Vulgate (390-405 AD) won their way to popularity much sooner
than others-the Old Latin versions died hard and not without inflicting ...
/v/vulgate.htm - 38k

Kingdom (409 Occurrences)
... 2. The Ist Dynasty: No sooner had Jeroboam I been elected the first ruler of the
newly founded state than he set about managing its affairs with the energy for ...
/k/kingdom.htm - 101k

Nearly (13 Occurrences)
... Matthew 18:28 But no sooner had that servant gone out, than he met with one of his
fellow servants who owed him 100 shillings; and seizing him by the throat ...
/n/nearly.htm - 10k

Or (15123 Occurrences)
... 2. (prep. & adv.) Ere; before; sooner than. 3. (n.) Yellow or gold color, --
represented in drawing or engraving by small dots. ...
/o/or.htm - 8k

Omri (16 Occurrences)
... The conspiracy evidently lacked the support of the people, for the report that Zimri
had usurped the throne no sooner reached the army at Gibbethon, than the ...
/o/omri.htm - 20k

Longevity
... Maturity is earlier, and signs of senility appear among them sooner than
among the same class in Great Britain. Alexander Macalister. ...
/l/longevity.htm - 9k

Lasting (40 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 19:34 No sooner, however, did they see that he was a Jew, than there
arose from them all one roar of shouting, lasting about two hours. ...
/l/lasting.htm - 19k

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